"As consumers show their preference for real, natural products, quality trees at various prices are attracting consumers to the tradition of celebrating Christmas with a real tree," says Susan Bloom of Ritchey's Christmas trees.

     "Today consumers are especially concerned with environmental issues.  They understand that a real Christmas tree is naturally a recyclable, renewable resource.  Their is a widespread misconception that natural resources are destroyed when real trees are cut.  The fact is Christmas trees are no different than any other agricultural crop.  The trees are raised to be harvested as Christmas trees.  If consumers don't buy real trees farmers wouldn't grow them and there would be a million fewer acres of trees growing in the U.S."

     Bloom says that for every tree harvested two to three new trees are planted in its place.  Trees grown as Christmas trees may benefit the environment far more than older established trees.  Like Christmas trees young trees release more oxygen than older trees because they grow faster.

     In addition, says Bloom, Christmas trees are grown in areas where trees and other crops might not.  Millions of Christmas trees are grown in soils that are not suitable for other crops.  They create scenic green belts, stabilize soil, protect water supplies, and provide refuge for wildlife.  Most importantly, when the season is over we recycle our trees by mulching and the mulch in turn returns valuable nutrients to the soil.

     Fake trees are made of plastic and aluminum.  The average life span of an artificial tree is just 6 years.  Then plastic is tossed in a landfill where it will lie in a compost state forever.  They will never break down or decompose when they are disposed of.